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Viewing cable 08DHAKA874, OBSERVERS PRAISE LOCAL ELECTIONS, SUGGEST

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08DHAKA874 2008-08-13 10:57 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXRO9430
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #0874/01 2261057
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131057Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7237
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8561
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2291
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9800
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0771
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1405
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000874 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR PINT BG
SUBJECT: OBSERVERS PRAISE LOCAL ELECTIONS, SUGGEST 
IMPROVEMENTS FOR UPCOMING PARLIAMENT POLL 
 
REF: DHAKA 834 
 
------ 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) Foreign and domestic observers of the August 4 local 
government elections gave a qualified thumbs up. They 
applauded the peaceful environment of the vote, which the 
domestic observers proclaimed as a step forward toward 
restoring Bangladesh's electoral system. Still, observers 
acknowledged numerous glitches in the electoral process and 
made several suggestions to improve the system in time for 
the Parliamentary election scheduled for December. Democracy 
programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International 
Development and other donor organizations will address many 
of the problems cited by the observers in the run-up to that 
election. 
 
--------------------- 
A QUALIFIED THUMBS UP 
--------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) On August 4, Bangladesh held elections for local 
mayors and councilors, the first vote held under the 
Caretaker Government and with a newly compiled voter 
registration list that included photos of 80.5 million people 
(reftel). The Election Working Group, a coalition of 33 
domestic civil society groups that fielded more than 3,000 
observers, said in a preliminary statement that the electoral 
process was "acceptable" with room for improvement. The 
statement, issued August 6, went on to say the vote was "an 
important step in a process towards restoring the integrity 
of electoral systems and processes in Bangladesh." Meanwhile, 
a draft letter from diplomatic observers, including members 
of the U.S. Embassy, to the Election Commission praised "a 
peaceful and generally successful election" while noting the 
need for improvements in voter registration, poll worker 
training, polling center management and voter education and 
access. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
MORE TRAINING, LOWER POLICE PROFILE NEEDED 
------------------------------------------ 
 
3. (SBU) Although the observers did not find any systemic 
problems, they found many inconsistencies in the knowledge 
and performance of poll workers. Some, for example, demanded 
that voters present their national identification cards or 
voter registration numbers provided by candidate agents, 
neither of which were required. In many instances, accredited 
observers were not allowed into polling centers or were not 
allowed to view ballot counting. The Election Working Group 
proposed publication of a manual for polling officials that 
clearly explains their duties, as well as organization of a 
comprehensive training program for presiding officers and 
other polling officials. 
 
4. (SBU) Both observer groups found some security forces 
behaving inappropriately at polling stations. Foreign 
observers cited instances of police and other security forces 
participating in the vote count, taking photos with their 
cell phones at polling stations, and standing close to voters 
as they cast their ballots. The Election Working Group said 
some security personnel "used excessive force" against voters 
and observers. In the letter to the Election Commission, the 
foreign observers suggested polling officials assert more 
authority over the management of polling centers to ensure 
security forces do not intimidate voters. 
 
5. (SBU) Ten days after the election, the most serious 
remaining controversy concerned the race for mayor of 
Barisal. In that contest, an Awami League candidate just 
squeaked past a surprisingly strong performance by the 
candidate from the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), which 
was formed in 2007 by politicians sympathetic with the reform 
program of the Caretaker Government. On August 12, the PDP 
announced plans to file a protest and to ask for a revote in 
several polling stations, claiming problems with the vote 
counting and the eligibility of the Awami League candidate. 
Syed Ashraful Islam, the acting general secretary of the 
Awami League, earlier alleged to PolOff that the PDP 
candidate polled strongly in part by handing out money to 
local officials and candidates for lower-tier council races. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
CONCLUSION: U.S. AND OTHER DONORS IN STRONG POSITION TO HELP 
 
DHAKA 00000874  002 OF 002 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
6. (SBU) The hard work by the U.S. Embassy and other foreign 
donors to help the Election Commission improve Bangladesh's 
electoral system clearly paid off with a generally successful 
election for local government. The donor community should do 
even more to help the Election Commission ensure the upcoming 
Parliament vote is viewed as free and fair. The USG plans to 
spend $5.6 million in the run-up to and immediate aftermath 
of that election to, among other things, train about 500,000 
political party polling agents and help candidates understand 
new electoral rules. In addition, donor funding pooled by the 
United Nations Development Program will train polling 
officers. As a result, there is good reason to believe the 
kinks in the electoral system observed in the August 4 vote 
can be ironed out in time for the critical Parliament 
election. 
Moriarty